Drug Testing in Schools

Drug Testing Programs in Schools are measures				thought of sending their kids to a school where
that teachers and administrators of a school put				drugs are rampant scares parents. Drug testing
into place in order to discourage drug use by				helps keep our kids safe.
students. School districts saw widespread				· The intent of this program is not to punish
implementation of comprehensive Drug and				students. The goal is for the drug user to
Alcohol policies starting in the mid-1980s. Although				straighten his or her life out. The schools use drug
small town school districts have generally been				testing as a tool to deter drug use and help
slower to adopt these measures, teenage drug				students to get drug education and/or counseling.
use has not spared rural and suburban schools				The results are not turned over to law
either.				enforcement.
There are many pros and cons in the school drug				The Supreme Court ruled in 1995 (in Vernonia v.
testing programs. Some say that the main				Acton) that schools could randomly test student
purpose of school drug testing is not to catch kids				athletes who are not suspected of drug use. The
using drugs, but to prevent them from ever using				Court also stated that as school athletes routinely
drugs, illegal or not. Once teenagers are using				face mandatory physicals and other similar
drugs it is much harder for them to break their				invasions of privacy, they have lower
addiction. If by testing the athletes or other school				expectations of privacy than the average student.
leaders, we can get them to say no to drugs, it				The Court specified that its decision should not be
will be easier for other kids to say no.				seen as a justification for further expansion of
Reasons for Student Drug Testing:				drug testing programs. In 2002 (the Board of
· Testing gives students a chance to say "No to				Education of Independent School District No. 92 of
Drugs" when approached to use drugs.				Pottawatomie County v. Earls) it was ruled in
· Student drug testing is important because				Supreme Court that all students who participate in
children become addicted more rapidly than adults				voluntary activities, like cheerleading, band, or
and their recovery is less likely.				debate, could be subjected to random tests as
· Students have a right to safe and drug-free				well.
learning environments. School administrators need				It's not a trust issue it's a health and safety issue.
reasonable tools to stop drug users and drug				We are talking about kids here. Schools that have
dealers from ruining school for everyone.				drug-testing programs makes atmosphere
· Testing gives parents an opportunity for				become more positive. In addition, drug test
intervention and treatment. Parents have the right				results are used for counseling purposes and are
to send their kids to drug-free schools. The				not turned over to law enforcement.